10th Mountain News Releases and Advisories

10th Mountain Division Soldier killed in Afghanistan

Press Release

April 25, 2011

Release Number: 1104-06

Fort Drum Public Affairs

10th Mountain Division Soldier killed in Afghanistan

Fort Drum, NY - An OH-58D pilot with Task Force Phoenix, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, was killed in Kapisa province, Afghanistan, Saturday, April 23, during a crash landing of the helicopter he was co-piloting. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Varnadore joined the U.S. Army in 2005, completed training, and has been serving at Fort Drum since 2007.He deployed with his unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2010. He had previously deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009.

Varnadore's awards and decorations include the Air Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Army Aviator Badge and the Combat Action Badge.

Images on the Fort Drum Public Affairs Web site are cleared
for release and are considered in the public domain. Request
credit be given as "Photo Courtesy of Fort Drum Public
Affairs" and credit to individual photographer whenever
possible.